Apparatus for drying products of clay or the like.



L. E. RODGERS. APPARATUS PoR-DRYING-PRODUGTS 0F GLAY 0RV THB LIKE.

A APPLICATION FILED NOV. 18, 1913.

1,103,435., Patented July 14, 1914.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

L. E. RODGBRS. A APPARATUS POR DRYING PRODUCTS 0F CLAY 0R THE LIKE.

APPLICATION IILED NOV. 18, 1913. Y

' v Patented July 14, 1914i.

s SHEETS-SHEET a.

L. E. RODGERS.

APPARATUS FOR DRYING PRODUCTS 0F CLAY 0R THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 1a, 191s.

Lw. y Pamed .my 14,1914.

9 SHEETS SHEET 4.

APPARATUS FOR DRYING PRODUCTS 0F CLAY OR THELLKE, c A r APPLICATION FILED NOV. 18, 1913. a T L L @3943529 I Famine@ my 14, 1914.

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'www E f www QZ l WMM v 423d l. "090 L. Z9 36 37 hl RODG'EQ A QFARATUS im nml-m PRODUCTS o1; CLAY 0R m; Lim.

.APPLIOTOH FILED NOV. 18, M113. L

Pa'nd July M2, MM.

9 SHEETSSHEET 6.

Z7 Z7 Z7 L. E. RDGERS. APPARATUS EUR DRYING PRODUCTS 01: CLAY 0R THE LIKE.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV.18, 1913.

9 SHEBTSFSHEET 7.

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APPARATUS FOR DRYING PRODUGTS 0F CLAY 0R THE LIKE. APPLICATION FILED NOV.18, 1.913.

LIUSASEL, Pantea July 14, 1914 9 SHEETS-SHEET 9.

LOUIS E. RODGERS,VOF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

APPARATUS FOR DRYING PROUCTS OF CLAY OR- THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 14, 1914.

Application filed November 18, 1913. Serial No. 801,681.

To all echo/n. 'it may conce/n Be it known that I, LoUis E. Romans, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful .Improveinent in Apparatus for Drying Prod- .ucts of Clay or the like, of which the follow- 'of hollow form, when made of certain varieties of clay, due to checking and warping. resulting in so impair-ing the articles as to render them useless. I have devised my improved apparatus especially for use with these tender varieties of clays, though it may be used to advantage in drying articles formed of other kinds of clay or other materials; my object being to provide for the economical and rapid drying of articles from which the moisture is to be eliminated, and particularly those made of the so-called tender clays, without warping or checking the articles.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which I have illustrated my improved apparatus, Figure 1 is a broken view in vertical sectional elevation of my improved drying apparatus, the section being taken, through one of the drying tunnels, at the line 1 on Fig. 4 and viewed in the direction ot' the arrow. Fig. 2 is a similar view constituting a continuation of the lett-hand end of the tunnel ot' Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar broken view of the other end of said tunnel. Fig. 4 is a broken `lan section of a portion of the apparatus o Fig. 1. Fig. 5 isI an cnlarged vertical sectional View of the structure shown at the right-hand end ot' Fig. 1, this structure, in the construction illustrated, being located midway between the ends of the tunnels. Fig. G is a section taken at the line (S on Fig. 5 and viewed in the direction ot' the arrow. Fig. 7 is a sectiomil view taken in two horizontal planes on the line 7 in Fig. Fig. 8 is a section taken at the line 8 on Fig. 5 and viewed in thc direction of the arrow. Fig. 9 is an enlarged view in elevation of the doors controlling the loading-end of the tunnel, this view being taken at the line S) on Fig. and viewed in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 10 is a horizontal plan section taken through the wall dividing the hot-air conduit from one of the mixing chambers, showing the construction ot' valve employed for controlling the admission ot hot air into said chambers, the section being taken at the line 10 on Fig. 11 and viewed in the direction/ot' the arrow. Fig. 11 is a section taken at the line 11 on Fig. 10 and viewed in the directionotl the arrow. Fig 12 is a view in elevation, partly sectional, showing the manner ot pivoting the members forn'iing the valve shown in F 10. Fig. 18 is a view in vertical sectional elevation of the manually-contrfiilled mechanism for operating certain of the sets of valves, the section being taken at the line 13 on Fig. ll and viewed in the direction of the arrow. Fig. ll is a section taken at the line l-l on Fig. 13 and viewed in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 15 is a vertical sectional view ot one of the similar valve-operating mechanisms shown in Fig. 13, this view showing further details ot' this mechanism; and Fig. 1G is an enlarged broken view in vertical sectional elevation taken longitudinally through one ot the tunnels and showing one of the similar cars preferably employed for supporting thc articles to be dried, the car being shown as loaded with hollow tile positioned thereon in the preferred manner.

In carrying out my invention I provide, preferably, a series ot tunnels 20 arranged side by side and of any desired length, these tunnels being provided for thc purpose of receiving the articles to be dried. and to this end the floor ot each tunnel is provided with two tracks 21 extending throughout the length of the tunnels and upon which the cars Q2. upon which the articles to be dried. are run.

Extcnding'across one end of the apparatus and transversely of the tunnels Q0 is a housing \containing a tra-r; J4- upon which runs a transfer-car. nolshown. which carries the loaded cars Q2 into regir-tration with the tunnel Q0 into which-thc)r an` to be introduced. and from which transfer-car they arc run upon the tracks 2l, the opposite end of the apparatus bein provided with a housing 25, similar to t e housing 23, and likewise provided with a track 26 upon which runs a car, not shown, for receiving the cars 22 and conducting them out of the apparatus after the drying operation has been completed.

Located beneath each tunnel 2O and extending longitudinally thereof, are feederducts 27 and 27a each of which communicates with the tunnel 20 above it through the medium of openings 28I inthe floor'of the tunnel. The feeder-ducts'f27 `and 27a serve to conduct heated air supplied to them as hereinafter described, into the tunnels 20. In the preferred construction illustrated, each of the feeder-ducts 27 opens at a point adjacent toruthe middle of the tunnels 29 into a mixing chamber 29, and each of the feeder-ducts 27a at the opposite end of the apparatus open, adjacent to the middle of the tunnels, into a 'mixing chamber 30.

In the operation of the illustratedapparatus, air in the properly heated condition lis introduced into the feeder-ducts 27 and 27a 'and from these feeder-ducts into the tunnels 20 through the openings 28 which 'are preferably so graduated in size as to cause the tunnels 2O to be heated approximately to the same temperature throughout their length, the moisture-laden air passing out of the tunnels through ventilators 31 in the roofs of the tunnels.

In the particular` construction illustrated, a cold-air conduit 32 with a superposed hotair conduit 33, is located below the tun-'l` nels 2O and between the chambers 29 and 30 and extend transversely of the tunnels 20. Valved-openings 34 and 35 are provided between the hot-air conduit 33 and the mixing Chamber-s 29 and 30, respectively, and similar valved-openings 36 and 37 are provided between the cold-air conduit and these mixing chambers, it being understood that the con-duits 32 and 33 may be caused' to communicate with any one or all of the chambers 29 and 30 by manipulation of the valves, as hereinafter described, controlling the openings 34, 35, 36 and 37. The conduit 32 communicates with the discharge-end of a blast-fan 38l located in a housing 39, with the suction end of the fan in communication with the atmosphere, as through a window 40, in the housing. The conduit 33 communicates with the discharge-end of a blast-fan 41 in the housing 39, and in communication at its suction end with any suitable supply of heated lair, which, in practice, would preferably be the waste heat derived from the kilns in which the dried products are burned by the cooling of the kilns, and which in the construction illustrated would be conducted into the fan 41 through a conduit 42.

In the operation of the apparatus it is necessary at different stages in the dryingvprocess, that the temperature of the air introduced into the tunnels 20 be varied from time to time, and this is effected by controlling the admission of air from the conduits 32 and 33 into the mixing chambers 29 and 30, which is vaccomplished by manipulating the valves at the `openings 34, 35, 36 and 37.

The form of valves and the means for operatin them may be of any suitable construction, that shown in the drawings being l desirable.A In this arrangement the valves represented at 43 are of the shutter type,

involving a series of upright shutters 44 trunnioned, as indicated at 45, in the u per and lower sides of the openings to e controlled thereby, theshutters 44 of each series thereof being connected together, lto operate in unison, by a connecting rod 46 and serving .to effectually close the opening controlled thereby when swung to the position represented in Figs. 5 and 6.' Each ofvr the valve mechanisms 43 is adapted to be moved to closed or open conditlon and t0 any intermediate position, through the medium of a shaft 47 which is connected with the trunnion of one of the shutters 44, and which, when turned, will, through the medium of the bar 46, simultaneously actuate in the same direction all of the shutters with which it coperates. In the arrangement illustrated, the operating shafts 47 pass upwardly through tubes 48 opening through the floors and roofs of the tunnels 2O and into a housing 49 extending directly above the conduits 32 and 33 and in parallel relation thereto. The upper ends of the shafts 47 are equipped w1th operating handles 50, through the medium of which the shafts 47 may be rotated, for a purposehere'- inbefore explained. The handles 50 are shown as provided with slots 51 at which they fit over the upper flattened ends of the shafts 47, the outer ends of the handles being equipped with dependinglugs 53 adapted to be moved into any one of the notches 54 of coperating stationary segments 55, the handles, in the operation of the apparat-us, to manipulate the valves, being first bodily raised to disengage the lugs 53 fromthe notches 54 and then turnedto the position desired, and again lowered to engage the lugs 53 with the corresponding notches 54. It will thus be understood that all of the operating handles 50, each adapted to control one of the valve mechanisms 43, are located conveniently to the operator who would be stationed in the housi'nc 49, which latter, in addition to containing the valve- 'controlling means, as stated, is equippedV between the middle and ends of the tunnels 20, thus indicating to the operator the amount of heat in an one of the tunnels at any time during t e drying operation, and enablin him, by operating the valves 43, to estab ish in each of the tunnels 20, independently of the other, the desired heat condition.

While any suitable form of support for i the articles while inthe tunnels 20 may be used, it is preferred that cars of the general form illustrated in Fig. 16 be employed, each of which involves a framework 57 mounted on wheels 58 which travel on tracks 21, and decks each formed of slats 59 spaced apart and upon which the articles to be dried are placed, the articles when of hollow formfbeing preferably placed upon the open-work decks 59 at their open ends, as represented of the tile 60, in Fig. 16.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: r1`he cars 22 loaded with the articles to be dried, vare introduced into the tunnels 20 through the housing 23 and through doors 61, to 'preferably lill the tunnels 20 with loaded cars. -After charging the tunnels as stated, thel doors 61 and similar doors 62 at the unloading ends of the tunnels 20, are closed to render the tunnels substantially air-tight at their ends. The operator stationed in the housing 49 thereupon manipulates the Valves 43 controlling the openings 34, 35, 36 and 37 to permit hot Aand cold air to pass from the conduits 33 and 32, respectively, in the desired proportions and at the desired velocity, to cause air at the desired temperature and `moving at the desired velocity to pass into the tunnels 20 from the ducts 27 and 27, the air discharged from the conduits 32 and 33 becoming mixed in the chambers 29 and 30 preliminary to their passage into the feeder-ducts 27 and 27B. The temperature and velocity of the air introduced into the tunnels 20' will deend 4upon the character of the articles to e dried and the kind of :materialv from which they are formed. Thus, where the articles are constructed of very tender clay, it is desirable that they be irst treated, for a length of time depending on' the particular kind of clay of which they are constructed, to a relatively light current of air slightly warmed for tempering them, and after becoming tempered, then subjected to air of increasing velocity and increasing temperature up to a certain point, depending upon the character of the articles and the kind of clay from which they are con! structed.

l As an example of the manner of utilizing my improved apparatus for tender clays, the drying of articles made from clay found in and about St. Marys, Pennsylvania, may be cited. In drying fire-proofing formed of this clay, the articles after being placed in A thettlinels 20 are subjected, for about three hours, to heated air at about to 80O F., the valves 43 being so set that the air at this temperature will flow into the tunnels 20 sufficiently fast merely to maintain the articles at this temperature. Air at about 130 F. is then introduced into the tunnels 20 for about four hours, The articles by this time will be so thoroughly seasoned that they may then be subjected to the final drying temperature anywhere from 200o to' 250 F., or even higher, if desired, which is maintained until the. articles are finally dried. The operator, however, is able by the a paratus disclosed'not only to determine t e actual heat condition of the tunnels 20, but to vary such conditions as conditions require. After the drying operation has been completed the cars are removed from the tunnels` 20 at the unloading end of the apparatus, and thepreviously described operations are repeated for each new 'charge of articles to be dried.

If desired, the articles may be cooled in the tunnels by introducing therein cold air, or cooled in the housing at the unloading ends of the tunnels.

The provision of the ventilators 31, especially in connection with the o enings 28 in the floors of the tunnels is o great advantage, as the moisture taken up by the heated air from the articles, instead of being drawn along the length of the tunnels and in contact with a large portion of the articles being dried which affords disadvantages, moves substantially upwardly, taking up the moisture in the articles and discharging from the tunnels through the ventilators 31; this feature of the apparatus being of especial im kortance where the articles to be dried are ollow tile, or the like, and are supported upon cars, as explained of the construction shown in Fig. 16, as

thereby the articles are subjected in a substantially uniform manner to the heated air, which greatly reduces danger of warping.

It will be understood from the foregoing that according to the preferred described operation of the apparatus the articles to be dried are first tempered, and thereafter the drying operation completed in the same compartment, as distinguished from tempering the articles in one compartment and then transferring them to another, wherein they are subjected to greater heat. This feature especially in connection with the positive and accurate control of the heat in the drying compartment is of great advantage, particularly in drying tender clays, which are very susceptible to marked changes in temperature and to currents of air, especially when in green condition.

Another advantage of the apparatus illustrated is that of providing forthe isolation of each tunnel from the others and the controlling of the introduction of the heat into each tunnel independently of the others. This feature is of great advantage to a manufacturer, as articles of different form and of different materials requiring dierent degrees of heat treatment and for different lengths of time may be properly treated inv the respective compartments. Furthermore, the arrangement illustrated might well be termed a unit system as each of the tunnels is independent of the others, thus permitting other tunnels to be added, as dedesired, to those originally constructed. Where the tunnels 2O are of relatively great length, as for example two hundred feet long, it is found desirable that they be fed with the drying air intermediate their ends, as shown in the drawings and hereinbefore explained, but it will be readily understood that the location and arrangement of the hot and cold air conduits may be varied, as desired, to suit the particular conditions presented in each case. Furthermore, while I have shown the valves 43 as manually operated, it will be understood that, if desired, they may be operated in any other suitable way, and in fact the apparatus illustrated may be modified and altered in many particulars in addition to those above pointed out without departing from the spirit of my invention, it being my intention and desire to claim the invention as fully and completely as the prior state of the art will permit.

That I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent isl. A drier-apparatus comprising a chamber for receiving the articles to be dried,

hot and cold air conduits, means for forcing hot and cold air through said conduits, respectively, a feeder-duct communicating with said chamber and with said conduits and extending lengthwise of said chamber, and valves controlling communication between said conduits and said feeder-duct.

2. A drier-apparatus comprising a chamber for receiving articles to be dried, hot and cold air conduits, means for forcing hot and cold air through said conduits, respectively. a feeder-duct below said chamber and extending lengthwise thereof and containing openings at intervals in its top and communicating with said feeder-duct and chamber, and valves for controlling communication between said conduits and said feederduct.

3. A drier-apparatus comprising a chamber for receiving the articles to be dried, hot and cold air conduits, means for forcing hot and cold air through said conduits,'re

spectively, a feeder-duct cxtendinglengthwise of said chamber and communicating with the latter, a mixing chamber interposed between, and in communication with, said feeder-duct and conduits, and valves controlling the introduction of air from said conduits into said mixing chamber.

4. A drier-apparatus comprising a plurality of non-communicating chambers arranged sideeby-side for receiving the articles to bev dried, feeder-ducts extending lengthwise of said chambers and communicating therewith, conduits for hot and cold air, re-

spectively, extending transversely of said chambers and in communication with said feeder-ducts, and valves separately controlling the admission of air from said conduits into said chambers.

5. A drier-apparatus comprising a plurality of non-communicating chambers arranged side-by-side for receiving the articlesI to be dried, feeder-ducts extending longitudinally of said chambers and beneath them with openings at intervals in their topwalls affording connection between each chamber and the feeder-duct below it, a mixing chamber for each feeder-duct at one end of the latter, hot and cold-air conduits extending transversely of said chambers and having openings at which they communicate with said mixing-chambers, and valves for said last-referred to openings, whereby the introduction of hot and cold air into said mixing-chambers may be controlled.

6. A drier-apparatus comprising a series of chambers arranged side by side for receiving the articles to be dried, hot and cold air conduits communicating with said chambers, means for forcing hot and cold air through said conduits, respectively, valves separately controlling the passage of air from said conduits into said chambers, and valve-operating means arranged in a series extending transversely of said chambers.

7. A drier-apparatus comprising a series of chambers arranged side by side for receiving the articles to be dried, hot and cold air conduits communicating with 'sa-idchambers, means for forcing hot and cold air through said conduits, respectively, valves separately controlling the passage of air from said conduits into said chambers, and

valve-operating means arranged in a series and extending upwardly and transversely of said chambers.

8. A drier-apparatus comprising a series of chambers arranged side by side for reeeiving the articles to be dried, hot and cold air conduits extending transversel of said chambers intermediate the ends o the latter and communicatingl with said chambers intermediate the ends of the latter for supplying air to the opposite ends of said chambers, and means for controlling the introduction of the .air from said conduits into said chambers.

9. A drier-apparatus comprising a series of chambers arranged side by side for receiving the articles to be dried, hot and cold air conduits extending transversely of said chambers intermediate the ends of the latter each valve extending upwardly and arand communicating With said chambers inranged in a series exterior of said chambers termediate the ends of the latter for supplyand extending transversely oi the latter. ing air` to the opposite ends of said oharn- LOUIS E. RODGERS. bers, Valves for controlling the introduction In presence ofof the air from said conduits into said A. C. FISCHER,

chambers, and Valve-operating means for D. C. THORSEN. 

